BOSTON – The University of Massachusetts’ Board of Trustee Tuesday defended the $546,000 salary of UMass President Jack Wilson.

The board said in a statement that Wilson’s compensation is not excessive when compared to other top executives at public universities.

The board said Wilson declined to accept a performance bonus of $54,000 in 2008 and took furloughs in December 2008 and 2009 for a loss of more than $26,000 in salary.

The statement came after The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that Wilson was paid $546,000 last year. That includes a $425,000 salary, a $45,000 housing allowance, $25,000 in deferred compensation, a $51,000 retirement annuity and the use of a car.

That made him the 50th in pay among public university presidents out of 185 surveyed.